The country where mobile phone and car sales have exceeded any other records in any other country, the country where people are busy making friends and romance through the SMS, the country where imported American and British jobs have created the “feel good effect”, yes that country India has been brought to its knees through a simple free saree distribution episode. Believe it or not the whole world, even small town local newspapers in Brazil or in America or in Russia cannot understand how this kind of tragedy can happen in a country that claims to be a modern day superpower. The world is astonished on the brute manifestation of democracy in the constituency of the Prime Minister of the largest democracy of the world. 

When one analyzes the whole episode, one simple thing comes out – no matter how many car owners are there on borrowed money, there is an enormous population in India that lives below the poverty line and politicians are ready to exploit these people to come or stay in power. After all the cyber koolies or cyber slaves of India get trained in Indian Universities almost free of cost through the money generated by the hard work of this impoverished class. These poor people no longer provide “feel good” effect for the Government. The Government is busy making friendship with Pakistan; bring in cyber koolie jobs from abroad, campaigning through SMS, mobile phone, Internet and other high tech means. Will Congress make any difference? Probably not. But the fact is that the Government has spent enormous amount of money through borrowing and created a fiscal mess called budget deficit, given little respect to poor and working class. All focus is on “feel good class” and making India totally dependant on American/Western jobs, economy and prosperity. 

The Saree stampede episode provides a glimpse how disorganized and ill governed the country is. How can this happen in Mr. Vajpayee’s own constituency? How can you bring in poor people from villages, promise them free clothing and not provide enough security? Do they not know what happens in India when poor people are promised free food and clothing? This issue is not for Election Commission to deal with only. We, every Indian need to understand the embarrassment this episode has created for all of us in the world. It is time to look into darker side of the “feel good effect” – the poor and impoverished who need our help – real help. We need a India that is moving ahead collectively – not just for a few.